Budgie Behavioural Problem
by Alex
(London)
At the end of July, I took my bird to an avian vet for an annual health check, and I informed him that I recently lost another budgie who escaped, and he could see she was obviously depressed, but otherwise in good health.
He suggested that I get another budgie as a new companion, and after an initial "I am the boss" behaviour from the older hen, they get on fine.
The problem is, that the new one hates being handled. I can stroke her in the cage of an evening, but other times she will try to get away.
When I do handle her, she squarks and bites until I put her down, but stroking doesn't seem to stress her out, but she moves around the cage or room as not to be touched.
She seems tame enough to touch of an evening, but not any other time of the day, and handling at any time is a big no no.
Is there any way that I can stop her squawking and biing and enjoy being handled and not biting,
I want to tame her enough to handle. e.g. put back in the cage but taming techniques don't seem to work.
She is a lovey budgie and under 6 months of age, and I love her to bits.